Who was Jesus?
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He had compassion for
the weak and the hurting.
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He loved every person He met
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and taught them how to love.
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His great heart helped
all those who came near Him
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but most of all He was a friend.
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That was who He was.
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Now find out who He IS.
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Hello and welcome
to 3ABN's 2021 Virtual
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Summer Camp Meeting where
we're answering the question
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Who is Jesus?
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All of the messages
that you will hear throughout
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this Camp Meeting will
address that very question.
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Please make sure that
you visit 3ABNCampMeeting.org
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so you can stay apprised as
to what will be taking place.
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We don't want you to
miss any of these power-packed
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presentations or any
of these inspiring songs.
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Each night at 9 PM Central
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we'll have a Q&A segment
that will only be available
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on the 3ABN+ platform.
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so please visit
3ABN+.tv to take part in that.
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Make sure that you text
your questions to 618-228-3975.
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Our speaker today
is Christopher Hudson.
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He's known as the forerunner
of The Forerunner Chronicles,
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a powerful
powerful media ministry
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and a great evangelist
for the gospel of Christ.
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I'm honored to
call him my friend.
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Chris is
originally from New York,
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is a proud husband and father to
Denise and Heaven respectively.
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After we are blessed
by a musical selection
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from Celestine Dickens the
next voice that you will hear
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will be that of
Christopher Hudson.
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God bless you. Hear ye him.
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It's not what I prayed for,
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it's not what I wanted
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it's not something I understand.
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My circumstances
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seem so confusing,
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I'm placing this
all in Your hands.
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Your ways are higher than mine.
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I want mountains to move...
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You want me to climb.
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So I'm gonna trust Your work,
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Your will, and Your time.
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Your ways are higher than mine.
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One day I'm
sure I will look back
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and marvel at how You knew best
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all along.
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You see from heaven...
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You know it's the hard times
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that makes my
face steady and strong.
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Your ways are higher than mine.
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I want mountains to move...
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You want me to climb.
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So I'm gonna trust Your work,
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Your Will, and Your time.
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Your ways are higher than mine.
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When I start to doubt
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help me believe
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somewhere, so far above me...
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me...
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Your ways are higher than mine.
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I want mountains to move...
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You want me to climb.
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So I'm gonna trust Your work,
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Your will, and Your time.
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Oo-oo...
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Your ways
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are so much higher than mine...
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Your ways are higher
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than mine!
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What a blessing and a privilege
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it is for me to be
here with you to share
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at this year's 2021
virtual Summer Camp Meeting
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that 3ABN is hosting.
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I really appreciate
the words of that song
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because the ways of God
are truly higher than ours.
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Before I get into my
subject matter at this time -
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which is The
Righteous Redeemer -
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and clearly the
foregone conclusion is that that
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righteous Redeemer is
none other than Jesus Christ
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Himself I want to invite you to
have a word of prayer with me.
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As it is my tradition
I'm going to kneel to pray
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at this time, and if
you feel inclined to do so
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you can kneel with me at home
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as we approach
the throne of God.
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Let's pray.
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Our Father in heaven,
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great God of the universe,
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I thank you for
the awesome privilege
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that You have
extended to all of us
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that we can come
boldly to the throne of grace
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that we might obtain
mercy and grace to aid us
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in our times of need.
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And Lord, we need You... even
if we don't realize we need You
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Father in heaven, we need You.
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And as You know, I
love to claim Your promise
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in Jeremiah 33
and verse 3. You said:
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"Call upon Me and
I will answer thee
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and I will show thee
great and mighty things
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which thou knowest not. "
And so as I prayed in times past
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I pray once again:
Lord, teach me the things
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that I do not
understand. Use me to accomplish
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Your divine purpose.
Cleanse me of all sins,
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self-trust and self-
righteousness. I want to be
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a pure and useful conduit
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through which You might pour
out Your grace upon your people.
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So may the Holy
Spirit be our teacher
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for this thing we pray in
the worthy and precious name
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of Jesus Christ
the righteous, Amen.
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I invite you to open
your Bible if you have one...
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and I do hope that you have one.
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We're going to go
to the book of Psalms.
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The book of Psalms
and we're going to begin
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at the verse...
Psalm chapter 45-
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Psalm the 45th division
- and we're going to begin
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at verse 6. And though you know
that we're going to be dealing
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with the subject of Jesus
being the righteous Redeemer
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I want to approach this subject
from a bit of a different
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perspective and so I'm hoping
that you will follow along.
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And I'm going to repeat
some things over and over again.
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I really do believe that
repetition deepens impression
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and so I'm going to use
that. And hopefully you'll be
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benefitted by that. In
the book of Psalms chapter 45
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and verse 6 the Bible
says: "Thy throne, O God,
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is forever and ever.
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The scepter of Thy
kingdom is a right scepter. "
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Now a throne is used in the
Bible as a symbol of a kingdom
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or an established government.
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And in this case we know it's
talking about a divine kingdom
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or a divine
government because this is
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the throne of God
that's being spoken of.
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And in the Bible
addressing the nature
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or the enduring nature I
should say of the throne of God
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the Scripture says the
throne of God is forever.
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Not just forever
but forever and ever
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which means that the
kingdom of God is eternal
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and it will never see any end.
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But the very
basis, the very reason
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for which the throne
of God will stand forever
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and the kingdom of
God will never see an end
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is because the scepter of
His kingdom is a right scepter.
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This is the very
reason that God's throne,
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His kingdom,
will endure forever.
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And because we
have another symbol
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we need to address the issue.
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So... a scepter can
be used as a symbol...
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As a matter of fact,
the scepter really is
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just that instrument -
that instrument of authority
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that is wielded by a potentate
such as a king as he carries out
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His
administrative responsibilities.
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The Bible lets us know
that God as He carries out
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His
administrative responsibilities
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as the King of
kings and Lord of lords
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He employs principles
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that are altogether right
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to govern His vast kingdom.
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That word right in the original
language from whence it was
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translated, it means that
these principles are principles
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of equity, meaning
that they are not biased
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in the least bit.
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There's no double
standard. Everything is fair.
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As a matter of fact that
word right also means just.
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So when it comes to the
principles that God uses
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to carry out the administrative
functions of His government
00:10:02.20\00:10:04.83
there is absolutely,
positively no partisanship.
00:10:05.03\00:10:09.30
What is good for one
is good for the other.
00:10:09.70\00:10:11.61
What is good for the
rich is good for the poor.
00:10:11.81\00:10:13.38
What is good for the
weak is good for the strong.
00:10:13.58\00:10:15.38
What is good for the intelligent
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is also good for
the not-so educated.
00:10:16.95\00:10:19.81
It makes no difference.
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Everything is clear, straight
and comprehensible for all.
00:10:21.75\00:10:25.72
And the law - the principles
by which God carries out
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the administration of
His government - are binding
00:10:30.16\00:10:32.43
upon all and
this is the reason why
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His throne will stand forever.
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As a matter of fact, the apostle
Paul in the Book of Hebrews
00:10:41.30\00:10:44.14
chapter 1 and verse
8... As a matter of fact,
00:10:44.34\00:10:46.78
again Hebrews chapter
1 is a favorite chapter
00:10:46.98\00:10:50.48
of mine because Paul
takes the time in that chapter
00:10:50.68\00:10:53.92
to contrast the
distinct difference between
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the authority and the nature
of Christ with the authority
00:10:58.99\00:11:02.82
and the nature of
angels. And as he does so
00:11:03.02\00:11:05.66
in Hebrews chapter 1 and
verse 8 the Bible says...
00:11:05.86\00:11:07.86
As a matter of fact,
the apostle Paul is actually
00:11:08.06\00:11:10.37
quoting the Psalmist...
the very Psalm that I just
00:11:10.57\00:11:13.77
shared with you a moment ago,
but he uses a different word.
00:11:13.97\00:11:16.94
He tells us there:
"Thy throne, O God... "
00:11:17.14\00:11:18.84
"But unto the Son He
saith: 'Thy throne, O God,
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is forever and ever. A
scepter of righteousness
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is the scepter
of Thy kingdom. ' "
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Once again, my friends,
the Bible lets us know that God
00:11:28.88\00:11:32.32
utilizes righteousness as
He carries out the affairs
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of His government.
00:11:37.46\00:11:38.83
Right doing is the very premise
of every judgment that is made
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by God... and that's important
00:11:44.10\00:11:45.60
because it is only as God
employs righteous principles
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to conduct the
affairs of His government
00:11:50.14\00:11:52.31
that every one of His rulings
can be deemed to be just,
00:11:52.51\00:11:58.71
fair, not partisan.
00:11:58.91\00:12:02.52
And I hope you've realized
00:12:04.89\00:12:06.99
that that which is
just is also righteous.
00:12:07.19\00:12:11.09
And that which is
righteous is also just.
00:12:11.29\00:12:14.16
These things are synonymous.
A just man is a righteous man.
00:12:14.36\00:12:17.27
A righteous man is just man.
00:12:17.47\00:12:19.87
And the standard by which
one is defined to be righteous
00:12:20.80\00:12:24.21
or just are the very
principles by which God utilizes
00:12:24.41\00:12:28.34
or employs to carry out the
functions of His government.
00:12:28.54\00:12:32.38
The question is: what is
an appropriate definition
00:12:33.45\00:12:36.85
for righteousness? We
know that righteousness
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can mean right doing
in its broadest sense.
00:12:39.52\00:12:43.19
But I've come to understand
that we're living in a time
00:12:44.09\00:12:46.70
where people like to relegate
terms such as righteousness
00:12:46.90\00:12:49.70
to the bin of relativity. You
know, everything is relative.
00:12:49.90\00:12:52.37
What you think is
right; what I think is right.
00:12:52.57\00:12:54.30
And if you have your standard
of right and I have my standard
00:12:55.50\00:12:58.11
of right and they have
their standard of right
00:12:58.31\00:12:59.67
we're all going
to be in a big mess.
00:12:59.87\00:13:01.21
There needs to be one
uniform standard by which
00:13:02.04\00:13:06.11
we can define what righteous-
ness, what right doing is
00:13:06.31\00:13:09.65
and God has given us one.
00:13:09.85\00:13:11.19
In the book of Psalms
chapter 119 and verse 172
00:13:11.22\00:13:14.12
the Bible says:
"My tongue shall speak
00:13:14.32\00:13:16.46
of Thy word for ALL Thy command-
ments are righteousness. "
00:13:16.66\00:13:20.70
God's commandments
are His universal standard
00:13:20.90\00:13:24.53
of right doing. They
are the legal parameters
00:13:24.73\00:13:27.34
that God Himself
has erected to preserve
00:13:27.54\00:13:32.01
the very prosperity,
to ensure the very joy
00:13:32.21\00:13:36.18
and happiness of all the beings
that exist within His vast
00:13:36.38\00:13:40.45
dominion. God's
commandments are His...
00:13:40.65\00:13:43.89
are His universal constitution
for all of creation.
00:13:44.09\00:13:47.26
And these are
the very principles
00:13:49.66\00:13:52.53
that are continuously utilized
in all of God's judgments for
00:13:54.40\00:13:58.70
His kingdom that
ensure that the kingdom of God
00:13:58.90\00:14:03.30
will stand forever.
Ladies and gentlemen,
00:14:03.51\00:14:05.87
that's so important
for us to understand!
00:14:06.07\00:14:07.64
In the Book of Psalms chapter
97 and verse 2 it actually
00:14:07.84\00:14:11.41
speaks of this issue once again.
A little bit different language,
00:14:11.61\00:14:14.22
brings in a bit of
a different concept,
00:14:14.38\00:14:16.02
but it brings the same
message home to our minds.
00:14:16.22\00:14:18.75
In Psalm 97:2 the
Scriptures tell us
00:14:18.95\00:14:21.46
"Clouds and
darkness are round about Him.
00:14:21.76\00:14:24.03
Righteousness and judgment are
the habitation of His throne. "
00:14:24.23\00:14:28.66
Now the word habitation means
foundation letting us know that
00:14:28.86\00:14:32.83
at the very foundation of
the throne of God we can find
00:14:33.03\00:14:36.60
both righteousness
as well as judgment.
00:14:36.81\00:14:39.87
And the fact of the matter is
that all of the judgments of God
00:14:40.08\00:14:44.45
are carried out based
on the righteous principles
00:14:45.41\00:14:50.49
that are contained,
00:14:53.39\00:14:55.52
codified if you will,
in His Ten Commandments.
00:14:56.73\00:14:59.83
At the foundation of the
throne of God what do we have?
00:15:03.00\00:15:05.87
Righteousness. But
what is the very definition
00:15:06.07\00:15:08.37
of righteousness
according to the Word of God?
00:15:08.57\00:15:10.21
His commandments!
00:15:10.41\00:15:13.07
And the very function of
a foundation is to sustain
00:15:13.27\00:15:17.58
something that is set
up or erected on top of it.
00:15:17.78\00:15:21.18
The very
function of a foundation
00:15:21.38\00:15:24.15
is to ensure the permanence
of something that might be
00:15:24.35\00:15:27.99
erected on that foundation
or set on top of that foundation
00:15:28.19\00:15:31.73
letting us know that as
long as God's commandments
00:15:31.93\00:15:35.46
stand sure and as long as
all of the judgments of God
00:15:35.66\00:15:40.10
are promoted or declared,
00:15:40.30\00:15:43.61
as long as all of God's rulings
00:15:44.41\00:15:46.64
are done in direct compliance
with His holy royal law
00:15:47.84\00:15:53.95
His throne will stand forever.
00:15:54.15\00:15:58.39
The throne will stand forever.
00:15:58.79\00:16:01.02
And I need to really
emphasize that last point.
00:16:02.22\00:16:05.93
Maybe I didn't make it clear
enough and so I'm going to try
00:16:06.13\00:16:08.20
to do it right now.
00:16:08.40\00:16:09.73
It's not good enough
00:16:09.76\00:16:12.77
for the commandments to
be at the very foundation of
00:16:12.97\00:16:16.64
the throne of God, but
all of God's commandments
00:16:16.84\00:16:20.44
must be utilized as
He makes His judgments.
00:16:20.64\00:16:24.68
There cannot be a
different interpretation
00:16:24.88\00:16:28.82
of the
commandments for one class
00:16:29.02\00:16:31.35
or another class, for
one group or another group.
00:16:31.55\00:16:34.06
There must be one
universal interpretation
00:16:34.26\00:16:38.29
of the commandments by which all
of God's judgments are declared.
00:16:38.99\00:16:44.67
So friends, if you
attack the commandments,
00:16:46.94\00:16:52.07
you attack the throne.
00:16:52.77\00:16:54.84
If you attack God's
righteous judgments,
00:16:56.41\00:16:59.11
you attack the throne.
00:16:59.31\00:17:00.78
All must stand for
the throne to stand
00:17:01.92\00:17:06.02
and for the kingdom to continue
00:17:06.22\00:17:09.82
throughout the
ceaseless ages of eternity.
00:17:10.03\00:17:12.76
And I'm glad
that God's judgments
00:17:13.26\00:17:17.00
are righteous judgments.
00:17:17.20\00:17:19.43
And there is great value
00:17:19.63\00:17:22.50
in having a
universal constitution
00:17:22.70\00:17:26.78
that promotes
righteous judgments for all.
00:17:26.98\00:17:30.48
The Bible speaks of the
great value that God Himself
00:17:31.55\00:17:34.42
places on the
righteous judgments
00:17:34.62\00:17:38.85
that go forth as they
are based upon the unchanging
00:17:39.05\00:17:43.46
nature of His commandments.
00:17:43.66\00:17:44.99
In the book of Psalms
chapter 19 and verse 9,
00:17:45.13\00:17:47.96
it might be a familiar verse
of Scripture to many of us,
00:17:48.16\00:17:50.50
the Scripture tells us
there: "The fear of the Lord
00:17:50.70\00:17:54.30
is clean enduring forever.
00:17:56.91\00:17:58.67
The commandments, rather
the judgments of the Lord
00:17:58.87\00:18:02.38
are true and
righteous altogether. "
00:18:02.58\00:18:06.15
Then it goes on to
tell us in verse 15:
00:18:06.35\00:18:09.42
"More to be desired
are they than gold, yea,
00:18:09.62\00:18:12.55
than much fine gold.
00:18:12.75\00:18:14.09
Sweeter also than the
honey and the honeycomb. "
00:18:14.12\00:18:16.12
My friends, God's
righteous judgments
00:18:16.32\00:18:19.19
are so precious...
they're so valuable
00:18:20.33\00:18:24.63
that they are of
greater worth than fine gold.
00:18:24.83\00:18:27.87
That means all the
wealth that one can amass
00:18:28.27\00:18:31.61
could never equal the
magnitude of the value
00:18:31.81\00:18:37.65
that God has placed on
His ability to continually
00:18:37.81\00:18:41.92
promote righteous judgments
00:18:42.12\00:18:44.52
for all of His vast kingdom.
00:18:44.72\00:18:47.76
And it also lets us know
00:18:49.22\00:18:50.56
that if God's law is
transgressed by anyone
00:18:54.36\00:18:57.10
then the righteous judgments
must be the same for everyone.
00:19:00.14\00:19:03.37
The Bible tells us
00:19:05.07\00:19:06.61
in the Book of Romans 6 and
verse 23- familiar Scripture -
00:19:07.61\00:19:10.51
"The wages of sin is death. "
00:19:10.71\00:19:12.71
That's it. If one
transgresses the law of God
00:19:12.91\00:19:17.49
that judgment that comes
down from the throne of God -
00:19:18.82\00:19:22.29
the same for
angel as it is for man -
00:19:22.49\00:19:24.66
the wages, the payment,
the requirement of the law
00:19:26.23\00:19:28.86
is death of the transgressor.
00:19:29.06\00:19:30.80
But I praise the Lord that
the rest of the Scripture says
00:19:31.00\00:19:33.84
that "the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ
00:19:34.04\00:19:36.57
our Lord. "
00:19:36.77\00:19:38.11
It may seem like a
very harsh judgment
00:19:38.14\00:19:40.64
that the wages of
sin must be death,
00:19:40.84\00:19:44.01
but brothers and
sisters, ladies and gentlemen:
00:19:44.21\00:19:46.25
it is the only way for
God to secure the integrity
00:19:46.45\00:19:49.98
of His government so
that all created beings
00:19:50.19\00:19:53.42
can enjoy peace,
prosperity, and true happiness
00:19:53.62\00:19:58.03
throughout the
ceaseless ages of eternity.
00:19:58.23\00:20:00.86
Now there is a dilemma
00:20:05.37\00:20:07.17
and the dilemma is this:
00:20:07.37\00:20:10.77
the Scriptures are clear in
the Book of Romans chapter 3
00:20:10.97\00:20:14.84
and verse 23 that "All
have sinned and come short
00:20:15.04\00:20:18.31
of the glory of God"
00:20:18.51\00:20:19.85
which means that
00:20:19.91\00:20:21.95
by requirement of law
00:20:23.39\00:20:25.19
all are worthy of death.
00:20:25.39\00:20:28.02
And as I stated earlier,
00:20:28.22\00:20:30.46
God's law is so precious, it's
so valuable, more than fine gold
00:20:31.46\00:20:36.53
that there is
absolutely positively
00:20:37.83\00:20:41.60
no gift that man
in and of himself
00:20:41.80\00:20:46.07
can offer to satisfy
the requirements of the law.
00:20:46.27\00:20:49.58
Even the Scriptures tell us in
the Book of Psalms chapter 49-
00:20:50.41\00:20:54.45
Psalm the 49th
chapter I believe it is -
00:20:54.65\00:20:56.65
Psalm the 49th chapter
and I'm going to look now
00:20:57.95\00:21:01.89
at the 6th verse.
00:21:02.09\00:21:03.76
The Scriptures tell us here:
"They that trust in their wealth
00:21:03.96\00:21:07.70
and boast themselves in
the multitude of their riches
00:21:08.33\00:21:11.33
none of them can by any
means redeem his brother
00:21:11.53\00:21:15.94
nor give to God
a ransom for him. "
00:21:16.64\00:21:22.34
And then I love the next part
of that verse because it goes on
00:21:24.15\00:21:27.22
to say: "For the
redemption of their soul
00:21:27.42\00:21:33.09
is precious. "
00:21:33.29\00:21:35.29
You can work for
ten lifetimes over
00:21:38.46\00:21:42.73
and you still would not be able
to amass a sufficient amount
00:21:42.93\00:21:48.10
of wealth that would satisfy
00:21:48.30\00:21:51.31
the price that is necessary
00:21:52.41\00:21:54.64
to ransom a soul.
00:21:55.51\00:21:57.48
Because the Bible tells us that
00:21:58.61\00:22:01.75
the redemption of
the soul is precious!
00:22:01.95\00:22:05.59
And because the redemption of
the soul is so precious to God
00:22:10.03\00:22:13.56
only something equally
as precious will suffice
00:22:13.76\00:22:18.83
to satisfy the
price of the ransom.
00:22:20.17\00:22:24.11
In the book of I Peter
chapter one and verse 18
00:22:25.61\00:22:30.71
the Word of God tells
us: "For as much as you know
00:22:30.91\00:22:33.01
that ye were not
redeemed with corruptible things
00:22:33.21\00:22:35.68
as silver and gold
from your vain conversation
00:22:35.88\00:22:39.59
received as
possessions from your father. "
00:22:39.79\00:22:42.72
It's very clear.
00:22:42.92\00:22:44.49
No silver, no
gold, no human resources,
00:22:44.69\00:22:48.73
the might of men, all of
our works combined INSUFFICIENT
00:22:50.20\00:22:55.74
to equal the precious nature
of a soul. Cannot redeem us.
00:22:56.24\00:23:01.64
And it's very interesting
because the Bible says
00:23:04.01\00:23:06.31
these things are
all corruptible things.
00:23:06.51\00:23:08.45
How could we even think that
the works of a corruptible man
00:23:08.65\00:23:13.15
or silver and gold which in and
of themselves are corruptible
00:23:13.36\00:23:16.02
could ever satisfy the
requirements of an eternal law?
00:23:16.22\00:23:19.96
Only an offering that is eternal
00:23:22.16\00:23:25.30
could satisfy the requirements
of a law that is eternal.
00:23:25.50\00:23:29.40
Only that would
be precious enough.
00:23:29.64\00:23:31.57
The Bible tells us
00:23:32.77\00:23:34.24
in I Peter chapter one
verse 19 what is precious to God
00:23:34.84\00:23:39.45
because although we were not
redeemed with corruptible things
00:23:39.85\00:23:42.78
such as silver and gold
from our vain conversation
00:23:42.98\00:23:45.25
received by tradition from our
fathers the Bible goes on to say
00:23:45.45\00:23:48.96
"but by the
precious blood of Christ
00:23:49.16\00:23:51.49
as of a Lamb without
blemish and without spot. "
00:23:51.69\00:23:56.46
It was the blood of Jesus Christ
00:23:57.50\00:24:00.07
that was shed on Calvary's cross
00:24:00.27\00:24:03.10
that sufficed to pay the
price to ransom you and I.
00:24:05.34\00:24:10.28
Nothing else would suffice.
00:24:10.48\00:24:12.95
An eternal sacrifice
would have to be offered
00:24:13.15\00:24:17.29
to meet the demand of
a ransom that is demanded
00:24:17.49\00:24:22.99
by an eternal law.
And what I love about this
00:24:23.19\00:24:27.60
so much is that the
Word of God says when Jesus
00:24:27.80\00:24:30.97
gave His precious
blood He did so as of a Lamb
00:24:31.13\00:24:36.10
without blemish and without
spot... a life that was pure.
00:24:36.30\00:24:39.21
A life that was holy; a
life that lived in total harmony
00:24:39.41\00:24:43.58
with God's
righteous and holy law.
00:24:43.78\00:24:47.35
He lived a life
00:24:47.65\00:24:49.58
that the law of God -
the commandments of God -
00:24:51.05\00:24:53.19
would truly declare to be just.
00:24:53.39\00:24:55.09
And when was this
ransom offered for us?
00:24:56.59\00:24:59.19
The Scriptures tell us
in the book of Revelation
00:24:59.39\00:25:01.46
chapter 13 and verse 8.
It says: "And all that dwell
00:25:01.66\00:25:05.03
upon the earth
shall worship the beast
00:25:05.23\00:25:06.94
whose names are not written
in the Book of Life of the Lamb
00:25:07.14\00:25:11.14
slain from the
foundation of the world. "
00:25:11.34\00:25:13.84
Before there was a blade
of grass; before God said
00:25:14.11\00:25:17.88
"Let there be light"
before there were any luminary
00:25:18.08\00:25:20.18
bodies; before there was
the dust of the ground that God
00:25:20.38\00:25:22.92
God utilize to
fashion and form into a man;
00:25:23.12\00:25:25.75
before He breathed into
his nostrils to make that man
00:25:25.95\00:25:29.06
into a living soul
the Bible lets us know
00:25:29.26\00:25:31.59
that God provided a Redeemer
for us to pay for a ransom
00:25:31.79\00:25:35.93
for us. In God's foreknowledge,
00:25:36.13\00:25:40.94
in His omniscience,
knowing that we would need
00:25:41.14\00:25:43.54
divine assistance - have mercy -
00:25:43.74\00:25:46.44
knowing that we would
need divine assistance
00:25:46.64\00:25:50.45
even before He
brought us into existence -
00:25:50.65\00:25:53.21
He provided a Redeemer for us.
00:25:54.85\00:25:56.95
Something that every time
I think about it it really
00:25:58.49\00:26:02.22
just gets to my heart. It
just seems totally unfathomable
00:26:02.42\00:26:06.26
how God would
provide for us a Redeemer
00:26:06.46\00:26:09.63
before He even
brought us into existence.
00:26:10.03\00:26:13.40
What wond'rous love is this
00:26:16.54\00:26:18.57
that we should be called
the sons and daughters of God!
00:26:19.37\00:26:22.11
And friends,
00:26:24.71\00:26:26.35
in God paying for
the price for our ransom
00:26:33.99\00:26:38.16
His desire is for all of
us to be saved in His kingdom.
00:26:40.60\00:26:45.50
He has made Jesus
Christ everything for us
00:26:47.64\00:26:51.84
so that none of
us have to be lost.
00:26:52.04\00:26:53.78
The Scriptures tell
us in I Corinthians 1:30
00:26:54.84\00:26:57.85
that God has made
Christ unto us "both wisdom,
00:26:58.05\00:27:00.95
righteousness, sanctification,
and redemption. "
00:27:01.35\00:27:03.95
Jesus truly is our
righteous Redeemer.
00:27:04.15\00:27:07.39
Everything that we need!
00:27:07.59\00:27:09.06
Somebody said: "But
listen: the law is spiritual
00:27:10.03\00:27:13.13
but I am
carnal... sold unto sin. "
00:27:13.33\00:27:15.20
Doesn't the Bible say
that in the book of Romans
00:27:15.40\00:27:17.53
chapter 6 and verse 12
of Romans, chapter 7 rather
00:27:17.73\00:27:20.24
and verse 12.
Yes... the answer is yes.
00:27:20.44\00:27:22.20
The Bible clearly
states that we are carnal
00:27:22.40\00:27:24.74
and the law is spiritual.
00:27:25.81\00:27:27.34
But the Bible
also goes on to tell us
00:27:28.68\00:27:31.21
in the book of
Romans chapter 8 and verse 3
00:27:31.61\00:27:33.75
"For what the law could
not do in that it was weak
00:27:33.95\00:27:36.79
through the flesh
God sending His Son
00:27:36.99\00:27:39.22
in the likeness of sinful flesh
00:27:39.42\00:27:41.22
and for sin
condemned sin in the flesh
00:27:41.42\00:27:43.93
that the righteousness of
the law might be fulfilled in us
00:27:44.33\00:27:47.80
who walk not after the
flesh but after the Spirit. "
00:27:48.00\00:27:50.93
Jesus has made
provision; He's made a way...
00:27:51.97\00:27:55.27
we have a righteous Redeemer.
00:27:55.47\00:27:57.11
And I need to touch on
that point because I find that
00:27:59.17\00:28:02.14
once again it's so
heartwarming and touching.
00:28:02.34\00:28:04.38
Now I really don't even
think those words are adequate
00:28:05.08\00:28:08.18
because the very fact that
Jesus Christ would be willing
00:28:09.42\00:28:13.52
to take upon Himself humanity
00:28:13.72\00:28:15.86
for the purpose of redeeming us
00:28:16.06\00:28:17.76
truly lets us know that He
was meeting the requirements
00:28:17.96\00:28:22.10
of the law to
function as our Redeemer.
00:28:22.30\00:28:25.13
Because a redeemer has to
be one that is near of kin.
00:28:25.33\00:28:28.37
Has to be a close family member.
00:28:28.57\00:28:30.11
Jesus said: "The only
way that I can redeem them
00:28:32.27\00:28:35.71
is if I can come as
close as possible to them. "
00:28:36.11\00:28:39.65
Now that might not mean
much to you at this time
00:28:40.05\00:28:42.58
because you've heard many times
"And the Word was made flesh
00:28:42.78\00:28:45.35
and dwelt among us
and we beheld His glory
00:28:45.55\00:28:47.12
the glory as of the
only begotten of the Father
00:28:47.52\00:28:49.12
full of grace and truth. "
So this thing might be something
00:28:49.32\00:28:52.19
that you've become so familiar
with that you're not even taking
00:28:52.39\00:28:55.13
the time to truly consider it.
00:28:55.33\00:28:56.83
But for Jesus to
truly humble Himself,
00:28:58.03\00:29:01.60
come down from the throne of the
universe - the eternal throne -
00:29:01.80\00:29:04.81
to humble Himself to
become like one of us...
00:29:05.01\00:29:08.54
You know what the
Bible has to say about us?
00:29:08.94\00:29:11.78
In the book of Isaiah
chapter 41 and verse 14
00:29:13.52\00:29:16.89
God, speaking
to His very people,
00:29:17.19\00:29:20.26
His chosen people, He
says to them: "Fear not
00:29:20.46\00:29:23.73
thou worm Jacob
and ye men of Israel. "
00:29:23.93\00:29:27.86
Before I go any further
God calls His people worms.
00:29:28.06\00:29:30.33
Somebody says: "Oh no,
He just called Jacob worm. "
00:29:31.27\00:29:34.10
Well remember: Jacob
wrestled with the angel
00:29:34.30\00:29:37.24
and he became Israel. Jacob
and all of his children: worms.
00:29:37.44\00:29:41.94
And God says to His people:
"Fear not thou worm Jacob. "
00:29:45.85\00:29:51.32
"Despicable,
reprehensible, undesirable,
00:29:51.99\00:29:54.92
weak as you may be: fear not"
00:29:55.12\00:29:57.79
God says: "I will help you. "
00:29:57.99\00:30:00.40
"I will help you saith
the Lord and thy Redeemer,
00:30:00.60\00:30:04.50
the God of Israel. "
00:30:07.17\00:30:08.80
Can you imagine? So
that means for Jesus
00:30:09.20\00:30:13.48
to become our next of kin
00:30:13.68\00:30:16.61
if we're worms, He has to
become a worm just like us!
00:30:16.81\00:30:21.08
Well look... look
what the Bible says.
00:30:21.65\00:30:23.62
If you go with me to the book
of Hebrews, Hebrews the second
00:30:23.82\00:30:26.35
chapter, Hebrews chapter 2.
00:30:26.55\00:30:28.62
In Hebrews the 2nd chapter...
Once again, I really do
00:30:29.69\00:30:33.23
encourage you:
when you have the time
00:30:33.43\00:30:34.76
just study the book of Hebrews.
00:30:34.83\00:30:36.16
It speaks in such
marvelous language concerning
00:30:36.23\00:30:40.34
the humility that
was exercised by Jesus
00:30:42.04\00:30:45.24
for the purpose
of our salvation.
00:30:45.44\00:30:47.01
And in Hebrews chapter 2
which speaks of the nature
00:30:47.21\00:30:51.31
of Christ the
Bible tells us verse 16:
00:30:51.51\00:30:54.68
"For verily He took not on him
00:30:54.88\00:30:58.45
the nature of angels
but He took on Him the seed
00:30:58.65\00:31:01.39
of Abraham. "
00:31:01.59\00:31:02.92
For Jesus to take on
Him the seed of Abraham
00:31:03.79\00:31:06.83
my friends, that means
He became worms like us
00:31:08.26\00:31:13.13
because Isaac is
a seed of Abraham
00:31:14.37\00:31:18.14
and Jacob was a seed of Isaac
00:31:19.14\00:31:22.34
and Israel... well that's Isaac!
00:31:23.45\00:31:27.35
Excuse me...
that's Jacob rather.
00:31:27.55\00:31:29.28
What's the point?
00:31:29.88\00:31:31.52
Jesus said: "They're worms;
I'll become worms just like them
00:31:32.05\00:31:34.89
for the purpose
of saving them. "
00:31:35.09\00:31:36.42
That's exactly what the
prophet in the King David said
00:31:38.53\00:31:42.90
in the book of Psalms
chapter 22. Psalm chapter 22-
00:31:43.10\00:31:46.97
Psalm the 22nd division
rather - Psalm chapter 22
00:31:47.17\00:31:50.44
looking at verse 6 the
Bible says that Jesus said...
00:31:50.64\00:31:53.64
I said Jesus said, yes,
because though this may be David
00:31:55.14\00:32:00.42
speaking these are
the words of Jesus.
00:32:00.62\00:32:02.48
He said: "But I am
a worm and not a man.
00:32:03.82\00:32:06.22
A reproach of men and
despised by the people. "
00:32:07.86\00:32:13.06
All they that look
upon me laugh me to scorn!
00:32:13.46\00:32:17.43
They shoot out the lips;
they shake their head saying
00:32:17.63\00:32:20.60
'He trusted in
God... let Him deliver Him
00:32:23.30\00:32:25.71
because He delighted in Him. "
00:32:28.98\00:32:30.88
Clearly a Messianic
prophecy dealing with
00:32:32.91\00:32:35.12
the last moment of
the life of Jesus Christ
00:32:35.32\00:32:38.35
because if you turn in
your Bibles with me, friends,
00:32:38.55\00:32:41.12
brothers and sisters, to
the book of Matthew chapter 29
00:32:41.32\00:32:45.89
chapter 27 rather, I
want you to begin at verse 39.
00:32:46.53\00:32:50.13
The Bible tells us as Jesus
hung between heaven and earth
00:32:50.33\00:32:54.17
the people passed by Him,
00:32:55.77\00:32:58.67
reviled him, wagging
their heads and saying
00:32:58.91\00:33:02.14
"Thou that destroys the temple
00:33:02.34\00:33:05.41
and buildeth it
again in three days:
00:33:05.61\00:33:08.88
save Thyself!
00:33:09.28\00:33:12.25
If Thou be the Son of God,
00:33:12.45\00:33:14.96
come down from the cross. "
00:33:15.16\00:33:16.66
Likewise also the
chief priests - mocking Him
00:33:17.06\00:33:21.40
with the elders
and the scribes -
00:33:21.60\00:33:25.60
they all said:
"He saved others...
00:33:25.80\00:33:28.80
Himself He cannot save. "
00:33:29.00\00:33:32.01
"If Thou truly be
the King of Israel,
00:33:32.21\00:33:35.11
come down now from the cross
00:33:35.31\00:33:38.11
and we'll believe You. "
00:33:38.31\00:33:40.78
My friends, these are the words
00:33:43.52\00:33:45.05
that we saw just a few moments
ago in the Book of Psalms
00:33:46.52\00:33:49.49
chapter 22 where
Jesus said: "I am a worm. "
00:33:49.69\00:33:53.73
He became a worm
00:33:55.13\00:33:57.47
so that he could deliver
00:33:58.47\00:34:00.27
us worms.
00:34:02.54\00:34:04.44
He humbled Himself
00:34:05.77\00:34:07.74
and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross.
00:34:07.94\00:34:12.51
For us!
00:34:12.71\00:34:14.05
He did all of this
that He might provide
00:34:20.26\00:34:25.19
the ransom that was
necessary to restore us.
00:34:25.39\00:34:28.83
But the work of
redemption isn't over.
00:34:30.37\00:34:32.23
Somebody says: "The work
of redemption was completed at
00:34:32.43\00:34:35.30
the cross. " Yes,
the ransom was paid
00:34:35.50\00:34:39.21
at the cross. Our
redemption was secured
00:34:39.41\00:34:43.71
at the cross. Ah, but
the work of redemption
00:34:43.91\00:34:46.88
is not over.
How do we know this?
00:34:47.08\00:34:48.42
Well, if you go with me
to the book of Matthew...
00:34:48.45\00:34:50.29
Matthew the 24th
chapter. As a matter of fact,
00:34:50.49\00:34:52.95
before we go to Matthew go here.
00:34:53.15\00:34:54.49
Go the book of Luke.
00:34:54.69\00:34:56.02
Go to Luke chapter 21.
00:34:56.06\00:34:57.89
If you begin at verse 25
00:34:58.09\00:35:00.10
speaking of the
events that will take place
00:35:00.30\00:35:02.56
foreshadowing the
second coming of Jesus Christ
00:35:02.76\00:35:05.17
the Bible tells
us in Luke chapter 21
00:35:05.37\00:35:07.77
beginning at verse 25:
00:35:07.97\00:35:09.84
"After the tribulation of those
days, the sun shall be darkened"
00:35:10.04\00:35:12.67
Excuse me. It says:
"There shall be signs in the sun
00:35:12.87\00:35:14.98
and in the moon
and in the stars.
00:35:15.18\00:35:16.51
And on the earth, distress
of nations with perplexity.
00:35:16.68\00:35:19.08
The sea and the waves roaring.
00:35:19.28\00:35:21.32
Men's hearts
failing them for fear
00:35:21.52\00:35:23.72
and for looking after those
things which are coming upon
00:35:23.92\00:35:27.02
the earth. For the powers
of the heavens shall be shaken.
00:35:27.22\00:35:30.09
And then shall they
see the Son of Man coming
00:35:30.29\00:35:32.69
in a cloud with
power and great glory. "
00:35:32.89\00:35:36.60
It's clear. We're
looking at the events
00:35:37.00\00:35:39.33
that transpire just before
the second coming of Jesus
00:35:39.53\00:35:42.14
Christ. And the Word of God says
00:35:42.34\00:35:44.21
there will be some
signs that we will see
00:35:44.41\00:35:46.31
in the sun and in the
moon and in the stars.
00:35:46.51\00:35:48.64
But those very specific
signs are not spoken of here
00:35:48.84\00:35:52.41
in the book of Luke
chapter 21. However,
00:35:52.61\00:35:54.78
if you now go over to the
book of Matthew chapter 24
00:35:54.98\00:35:57.79
and begin with me at
verse 29 some of these signs
00:35:58.19\00:36:00.92
are actually spoken of where
the Scripture goes on to tell us
00:36:01.12\00:36:03.99
"After the
tribulation of those days
00:36:04.19\00:36:05.96
the sun shall be darkened;
00:36:06.16\00:36:07.56
the moon shall
not give her light;
00:36:07.76\00:36:09.60
and the stars
shall fall from heaven
00:36:09.80\00:36:11.90
and the powers of the
heavens shall be shaken. "
00:36:12.10\00:36:14.54
And then the
Scripture goes on to say
00:36:14.74\00:36:16.37
"Then shall appear
the sign of the Son of Man
00:36:16.57\00:36:20.58
in heaven and then shall
all the tribes of the earth
00:36:20.78\00:36:22.44
mourn. They shall
see the Son of Man
00:36:22.64\00:36:25.51
coming in the clouds of heaven
with power and great glory. "
00:36:25.71\00:36:28.38
So in Matthew chapter
24 now we know exactly
00:36:29.22\00:36:33.36
what signs will take
place in the sun and in the moon
00:36:33.56\00:36:37.13
and in the stars. The
sun will becomes darkened;
00:36:37.33\00:36:40.96
the moon will
not give her light;
00:36:41.36\00:36:42.80
and the stars
will fall from heaven.
00:36:43.20\00:36:45.30
The same thing is
spoken of in specific detail
00:36:46.27\00:36:49.90
in the book of Mark
chapter 13 beginning at verse 24
00:36:50.11\00:36:53.48
all the way to verse 25.
00:36:53.68\00:36:55.11
However, the book of
John - the gospel of John -
00:36:55.81\00:36:58.35
is the only gospel
in which you do not find
00:36:58.55\00:37:02.15
these signs
spoken of that foreshadow
00:37:03.18\00:37:07.16
the event of the
second coming of Jesus Christ.
00:37:07.36\00:37:09.96
However, John DOES
speak of these things
00:37:10.16\00:37:12.29
and he does so in
the book of Revelation.
00:37:12.49\00:37:14.43
If you go to the book
of Revelation chapter 6...
00:37:14.63\00:37:16.70
Revelation chapter 6
where the opening of the seals
00:37:16.90\00:37:21.60
are spoken of. And
in Revelation chapter 6
00:37:21.80\00:37:24.34
starting with me now at verse 12
00:37:24.54\00:37:26.17
the Bible tells us
there: "And I beheld
00:37:26.37\00:37:28.51
when the sixth seal was opened
00:37:28.71\00:37:30.05
and lo, there was
a great earthquake
00:37:30.18\00:37:32.31
and the sun became
black as sackcloth of hair
00:37:32.51\00:37:35.85
and the moon became as
blood and the stars of heaven
00:37:36.05\00:37:38.92
fell unto the
earth even as a fig tree
00:37:39.12\00:37:41.56
casteth her untimely figs
00:37:41.76\00:37:43.29
when she is shaken
of a mighty wind. "
00:37:43.49\00:37:45.39
Same signs that we saw in
the book of Matthew chapter 24
00:37:45.79\00:37:50.80
verses 29 and 30...
same signs that you'll see
00:37:51.00\00:37:56.20
in the book of
Mark chapter 13 as well
00:37:56.40\00:37:58.41
with the addition of
this great earthquake.
00:37:58.61\00:38:00.91
My friends, if you
did not know already
00:38:02.08\00:38:04.91
all of these events
have already taken place.
00:38:05.11\00:38:07.68
For instance, that great earth-
quake that happened during
00:38:07.88\00:38:10.35
the opening of this seal
that was the great earthquake
00:38:10.55\00:38:12.99
of Lisbon that
transpired in the year 1755.
00:38:13.19\00:38:17.33
The sun becoming black as
sackcloth of hair and the moon
00:38:18.56\00:38:23.16
becoming like blood:
that was the great dark day
00:38:23.37\00:38:25.97
that took place
in the year 1780.
00:38:26.17\00:38:28.60
And the stars of heaven
falling unto the earth -
00:38:28.80\00:38:31.24
that amazing spectacle -
transpired in the year 1833.
00:38:31.64\00:38:36.48
And so we have
this timeline that is
00:38:38.68\00:38:43.25
marked by these events
00:38:43.45\00:38:45.29
that take us from
1755 all the way to 1833.
00:38:46.99\00:38:52.56
If you open your
Bible back up with me
00:38:52.76\00:38:54.73
to the book of Luke chapter 21
00:38:54.93\00:38:58.47
the Bible lets us
know that after the issue
00:38:58.67\00:39:01.30
of the stars
falling to the earth -
00:39:01.50\00:39:03.94
an event that would
take place in the year 1833-
00:39:04.14\00:39:06.27
things would start
happening on planet earth.
00:39:06.47\00:39:08.21
There would be distress
of nations with perplexity,
00:39:09.14\00:39:11.91
the sea and the waves roaring,
00:39:12.11\00:39:13.82
and then men's hearts would
begin to fail them for fear
00:39:14.78\00:39:17.72
for looking after those things
which are coming upon the earth.
00:39:17.92\00:39:20.46
I believe with all of my heart
00:39:20.66\00:39:22.82
that the things that are taking
place right now in our world
00:39:23.02\00:39:25.86
are significant prophetic events
that are helping to agitate
00:39:26.06\00:39:30.47
this prophetic event...
this prophetic situation...
00:39:30.67\00:39:33.94
bringing about the distress
of the nations with perplexity.
00:39:36.81\00:39:40.94
All the nations
being distressed.
00:39:41.14\00:39:42.84
Have we ever seen things like
what we're seeing right now?
00:39:43.24\00:39:45.78
The nations being
distressed simultaneously
00:39:46.65\00:39:49.82
and the great thinking
minds and even the scientists
00:39:50.49\00:39:53.15
perplexed as to
what they are to do.
00:39:53.36\00:39:55.32
How do we combat climate change?
00:39:55.52\00:39:56.86
How do we combat this crisis?
00:39:57.03\00:39:58.39
How do we deal
with the economic crises
00:39:58.79\00:40:01.50
that are right now upon us?
00:40:01.70\00:40:03.13
You know, there is one
thing that I've come to realize:
00:40:04.33\00:40:06.67
if you print trillions
and trillions and trillions
00:40:09.90\00:40:12.27
of dollars out of thin air
00:40:12.47\00:40:14.11
and keep stimulating and
stimulating and stimulating,
00:40:14.48\00:40:17.28
I don't care if you're overstim-
ulating something biological,
00:40:19.18\00:40:23.02
something technical,
or something governmental
00:40:23.22\00:40:25.25
you're on a downward
spiral for a breakdown.
00:40:25.65\00:40:28.12
And because of
all of this distress
00:40:30.19\00:40:33.90
and the perplexing nature of
the things that are transpiring
00:40:34.80\00:40:37.90
the Bible says that thinking
men... their hearts are failing
00:40:38.10\00:40:41.64
them for fear because
they realize something is
00:40:41.84\00:40:44.44
coming and they really
don't have the solution.
00:40:44.64\00:40:47.58
I praise the Lord
that at the very time
00:40:48.84\00:40:52.95
men's hearts are
failing them for fear
00:40:53.15\00:40:55.12
the Bible tells us that
something is on the horizon.
00:40:55.52\00:40:58.22
It's the second coming of Jesus
00:40:58.42\00:41:00.86
and the Bible goes on
to say in Luke chapter 21
00:41:01.06\00:41:04.49
and verse 28: "And
when all these things
00:41:04.69\00:41:07.66
begin to come to pass
00:41:07.86\00:41:09.20
then look up and
lift up your head...
00:41:09.36\00:41:12.57
for your
redemption draweth nigh. "
00:41:12.97\00:41:17.27
My friends, the final
act of the work of redemption
00:41:18.27\00:41:23.24
is right before us
in the immediate future.
00:41:23.45\00:41:25.68
Because the work of redemp-
tion will never be complete
00:41:26.92\00:41:30.59
in the mind of
God until you and I
00:41:30.79\00:41:34.02
have been perfectly
restored back into His image,
00:41:34.22\00:41:37.13
back into His likeness,
standing on the sea of glass
00:41:37.33\00:41:40.86
physically in His
immediate presence.
00:41:41.06\00:41:43.40
And that is an event that
is very soon to take place.
00:41:46.77\00:41:52.04
Which is extremely beautiful
to me when I consider this:
00:41:54.61\00:41:57.11
because Jesus secured our
redemption in eternity past
00:41:58.25\00:42:03.18
and Jesus will
complete our redemption
00:42:03.92\00:42:06.82
in the future that's
immediately before us
00:42:07.22\00:42:09.76
it lets me know
from the book of Genesis
00:42:11.86\00:42:14.13
all the way to
the book of Revelation
00:42:14.33\00:42:16.16
the entirety of the
Bible is nothing more than
00:42:16.36\00:42:19.67
an immense unfolding of
the awesome plan of redemption.
00:42:19.87\00:42:24.64
And the central
figure of this history
00:42:25.24\00:42:31.21
is the righteous
Redeemer Jesus Christ Himself.
00:42:31.61\00:42:34.75
Every chapter, every book
00:42:36.15\00:42:38.69
of the Bible it
speaks to us concerning
00:42:38.89\00:42:43.43
the work of the
righteous Redeemer.
00:42:43.63\00:42:45.23
And if we fail to see
the righteous Redeemer
00:42:45.43\00:42:47.83
in any of our study of the Bible
00:42:48.03\00:42:50.13
then my friends we study
the Bible altogether wrong.
00:42:50.33\00:42:52.93
We need to be looking forward
00:42:57.17\00:42:59.71
to the culmination of
the work of redemption.
00:42:59.91\00:43:03.14
This is where our
attention needs to be riveted.
00:43:05.25\00:43:07.88
This is where our
minds need to be focused.
00:43:08.08\00:43:10.55
This is where ALL
creation is focused.
00:43:10.75\00:43:12.85
The Word of God tells
us in the book of Romans
00:43:13.25\00:43:15.29
chapter 8...
Romans the 8th chapter
00:43:15.49\00:43:18.39
and looking at verse 22
the Bible says: "For we know
00:43:18.79\00:43:22.60
that the whole
creation groaneth and travaileth
00:43:22.80\00:43:26.23
in pain until now.
00:43:26.43\00:43:28.50
And not only they but we also...
00:43:28.70\00:43:31.64
we also which have received
the first-fruits of the Spirit
00:43:31.84\00:43:36.21
even we ourselves
groan within ourselves
00:43:36.61\00:43:39.91
waiting for the adoption to wit:
00:43:40.12\00:43:43.15
the redemption of our body. "
00:43:43.35\00:43:47.09
All of creation is waiting
00:43:47.49\00:43:50.39
for the final work of
the plan of redemption
00:43:50.99\00:43:55.56
to be
accomplished. And that is when
00:43:55.76\00:43:57.77
we, by the grace of God,
00:43:57.97\00:44:01.60
stand in His righteousness
00:44:02.67\00:44:06.61
before His glorious presence.
00:44:06.81\00:44:09.01
The Word of God
says if you are looking
00:44:12.61\00:44:17.05
for the appearing of
the righteous Redeemer,
00:44:17.25\00:44:19.45
if you are waiting for
this great climactic event,
00:44:19.65\00:44:24.13
the Blessed Hope of the return
of Jesus Christ the righteous
00:44:24.33\00:44:27.70
and you're doing so without
the first fruits of the Spirit
00:44:27.90\00:44:31.23
operating in you,
then the reality is
00:44:31.43\00:44:33.47
your waiting is in vain.
00:44:33.67\00:44:35.17
My friends, we need
to have the first-fruits
00:44:37.21\00:44:40.34
of the Spirit operating in us.
00:44:40.54\00:44:42.11
The Bible tells us in
Romans chapter 8 and verse 14
00:44:42.31\00:44:45.55
that: "As many as are
led by the Spirit of God
00:44:45.75\00:44:47.98
they are the sons of
God. " Only as we allow
00:44:48.18\00:44:51.25
the presence of God's
Spirit to reign within our lives
00:44:51.45\00:44:54.42
so that the beauty of holiness
can be revealed through us
00:44:54.62\00:44:57.73
are we truly preparing
for the time of redemption.
00:44:57.93\00:45:02.00
God is looking to see
00:45:07.50\00:45:10.14
if there are people today
00:45:10.34\00:45:12.37
that are
revealing love, joy, peace,
00:45:12.57\00:45:15.64
longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith.
00:45:15.84\00:45:18.85
He's looking for
this harvest in our lives!
00:45:19.05\00:45:21.55
Is the Spirit operating in you?
00:45:23.62\00:45:25.65
Is that fruit being
revealed in your home?
00:45:26.79\00:45:29.06
Is it being
revealed in the workplace?
00:45:29.26\00:45:30.73
Is it being
revealed in your marriage?
00:45:30.93\00:45:33.29
Because Jesus didn't just come
00:45:36.56\00:45:39.70
to pay the ransom
00:45:40.00\00:45:42.60
that the law demanded
00:45:45.21\00:45:47.24
so that we could be restored.
00:45:47.44\00:45:52.41
Jesus came to empower us
00:45:57.85\00:46:01.02
so that we could live a life
00:46:03.09\00:46:05.69
of holiness.
00:46:07.36\00:46:08.96
How are you waiting
for the righteous Redeemer?
00:46:10.97\00:46:13.47
Now, the other day I
was out with my daughter.
00:46:17.64\00:46:19.81
I don't remember what I was
doing but I know I was busy.
00:46:20.01\00:46:22.58
And getting busy
00:46:24.65\00:46:26.25
having got hungry
00:46:27.05\00:46:28.68
I knew I needed to get
something for Heaven to eat.
00:46:30.05\00:46:33.79
And so I went to a nearby eatery
00:46:33.99\00:46:36.32
and I started having
them make this bowl for her.
00:46:37.79\00:46:40.80
Little bit of brown
rice here; some guacamole;
00:46:41.00\00:46:43.47
some beans...
all of these things.
00:46:43.67\00:46:45.27
As I'm having them put
this bowl together for her
00:46:45.47\00:46:48.60
the cashier yelled
down the line to me
00:46:48.80\00:46:51.57
and asked me: "Is that
all that you're getting? "
00:46:51.77\00:46:54.44
And I responded to him "Yes"
but I found it quite curious
00:46:55.08\00:46:58.35
that he asked me
this question because
00:46:58.55\00:47:00.82
it's usually something that
they would ask once you actually
00:47:00.98\00:47:04.19
arrive at the cash register.
00:47:04.39\00:47:06.59
Here I was a good
deal of a distance
00:47:07.32\00:47:11.93
from completing my order
and he was already asking me
00:47:12.13\00:47:15.16
if this was ALL that I
was planning on getting.
00:47:15.36\00:47:18.43
And by the time I
reached to the register
00:47:19.77\00:47:24.74
the cashier said to me:
00:47:24.94\00:47:27.28
"Don't worry, you don't have to
pay. It's all taken care of. "
00:47:27.48\00:47:30.25
I said: "What are
you talking about? "
00:47:31.11\00:47:32.71
He said: "There was a
gentleman that was in here
00:47:33.88\00:47:36.69
before you and he
paid it forward for you. "
00:47:36.89\00:47:41.69
And it caught me off
guard, and immediately I ran out
00:47:43.93\00:47:47.26
of this eatery to find
the gentleman. And I did find
00:47:47.46\00:47:50.07
the gentleman. And
I wanted to thank him
00:47:50.27\00:47:53.23
and I did thank him for
the kindness that he showed me
00:47:53.44\00:47:56.47
because he had no
real reason to do it.
00:47:56.67\00:47:59.71
I did nothing to merit the
kindness that he showed to me.
00:48:00.78\00:48:04.15
But it's still... but still...
00:48:06.78\00:48:09.95
he paid it forward for me
00:48:10.15\00:48:11.75
so I wanted to
extend to him my gratitude.
00:48:12.89\00:48:15.96
And I wanted to give him some-
thing and I gave him something.
00:48:16.16\00:48:18.33
You know, brothers and sisters,
00:48:18.73\00:48:22.10
before we even
arrived on the scene
00:48:24.07\00:48:26.94
Jesus paid our ransom forward.
00:48:27.14\00:48:30.21
We've done nothing
to merit this kindness.
00:48:31.97\00:48:35.61
He's done it solely
out of the vast love
00:48:37.38\00:48:41.95
that resides within His heart.
00:48:42.15\00:48:43.52
And although many of us may
have grown up in atmospheres
00:48:44.62\00:48:49.52
where we were not knowledgeable
00:48:49.72\00:48:52.49
of this love, of this immense
kindness that God has shown
00:48:52.69\00:48:57.13
towards us. Once the
knowledge of the truth
00:48:57.33\00:49:00.84
has come to us
00:49:01.00\00:49:02.54
the very least that we can do
00:49:02.74\00:49:05.14
is tell the Lord how much
00:49:08.71\00:49:11.01
we appreciate
what He's done for us.
00:49:11.21\00:49:13.08
And not just tell
Him... not just tell God
00:49:14.85\00:49:17.59
how thankful we are
00:49:17.79\00:49:19.19
for the kindness
that He has shown to us
00:49:19.39\00:49:21.52
in paying the ransom
00:49:23.32\00:49:25.49
that the law demanded for us
00:49:25.69\00:49:27.86
but we should
give Him something.
00:49:28.06\00:49:29.80
And all that we can
truly give Him is our hearts.
00:49:31.90\00:49:34.17
I mean, all of our heart, all
of our mind, all of our soul,
00:49:34.90\00:49:37.91
all of our strength. We
need to give Him everything.
00:49:38.11\00:49:39.81
Are you willing to
give Him everything?
00:49:42.74\00:49:44.75
I pray that when the righteous
Redeemer - Jesus Christ,
00:49:47.02\00:49:52.75
the Lamb of God -
returns to this earth
00:49:54.22\00:49:59.33
for the called and the
chosen and the faithful
00:50:00.23\00:50:03.87
He will find you
living a life of gratitude
00:50:05.30\00:50:09.80
that is revealed by
continual loving obedience
00:50:10.21\00:50:16.14
to His commandments.
00:50:16.54\00:50:18.58
My friends, it
makes no difference
00:50:18.78\00:50:23.15
where you find yourself
right now in this life...
00:50:24.09\00:50:27.19
Jesus can redeem you.
00:50:27.39\00:50:30.13
I know what I'm talking about.
00:50:31.46\00:50:32.99
A few years ago before the Lord
called me out into full-time
00:50:33.90\00:50:37.67
ministry I was in
the music industry.
00:50:37.87\00:50:41.27
I was writing
films for motion pictures
00:50:43.10\00:50:46.71
and I was caught up in a
lifestyle that was altogether
00:50:47.48\00:50:50.08
reprehensible.
As a matter of fact,
00:50:50.28\00:50:53.05
I was trying to live the life
00:50:53.25\00:50:57.49
that harmonized with
what seemed to be popular
00:50:58.32\00:51:02.76
within the culture
and I was a young man.
00:51:02.96\00:51:08.83
I'm still a young man.
00:51:09.23\00:51:10.83
So I'll never forget. I
was... I got caught up in
00:51:12.87\00:51:16.00
selling quite a
deal... quite a great deal of
00:51:17.07\00:51:21.91
narcotics.
00:51:22.11\00:51:23.95
I was moving drugs from New York
00:51:24.68\00:51:28.02
to the South
00:51:28.52\00:51:30.15
and the operation was going
so well that I had to pick up
00:51:30.92\00:51:34.59
new product on a weekly basis.
00:51:34.79\00:51:36.79
And I'll never
forget: there was one weekend
00:51:36.99\00:51:40.76
as I came back to New York
00:51:41.66\00:51:43.26
picking up some more
drugs to take back down South
00:51:43.47\00:51:48.97
to continue making
money hand over fist
00:51:51.14\00:51:54.14
I told some of my
friends at that time, I said:
00:51:55.44\00:51:57.68
"You know what? I'm so tired
of having to make this trip
00:51:57.88\00:52:00.52
I wish that I could just
hold off making this trip
00:52:00.72\00:52:04.72
for at least one more week.
" And then a friend told me
00:52:04.92\00:52:06.96
that they were at a
nightclub the previous week
00:52:07.16\00:52:10.99
and that I would be
able to go into that club
00:52:11.19\00:52:13.16
that very night and be able
to move a great deal of weight.
00:52:13.36\00:52:16.80
That's the language
that we use for saying
00:52:17.00\00:52:18.93
we'd be able to
move a lot of product.
00:52:19.13\00:52:20.67
And I went there on
the strength of his word
00:52:20.87\00:52:23.37
because you know
all of us sometimes
00:52:23.57\00:52:25.14
we have that friend
whose word we tend to trust
00:52:25.34\00:52:28.21
a little bit
more than the others.
00:52:28.41\00:52:29.74
Well that was that guy.
00:52:29.78\00:52:31.11
And on the strength of his word
00:52:31.38\00:52:33.08
I went and did something that
I traditionally would not do.
00:52:33.28\00:52:36.22
But it was just as he said.
00:52:36.42\00:52:38.19
And I was making money
hand over fist that night.
00:52:38.39\00:52:40.62
And of a certainty, I
was not going to have to make
00:52:40.82\00:52:43.02
that journey for another week.
But as I was in the midst of
00:52:43.22\00:52:46.36
the folly, the
drinking, and the revelry
00:52:46.56\00:52:48.73
all of sudden the
police came into the club.
00:52:48.93\00:52:51.97
2, 3 o'clock in the morning.
The police came into the club
00:52:53.07\00:52:56.20
and they said: "Everybody
get up against the wall. "
00:52:56.40\00:52:58.27
And as I got up against
the wall one of my friends
00:52:58.47\00:53:00.14
looked at me and
he had these eyes on.
00:53:00.34\00:53:02.74
Basically the
eyes were saying to me:
00:53:02.94\00:53:04.88
"Wow... you're done! "
00:53:05.08\00:53:06.41
And I looked at him
and I said: "You know what?
00:53:07.28\00:53:08.88
This is the life that I chose
00:53:09.08\00:53:10.42
and sometimes
it goes this way. "
00:53:11.32\00:53:13.02
But I did have parents
that taught me to pray.
00:53:13.22\00:53:16.19
And so I said my
prayer in that hour.
00:53:17.16\00:53:20.33
I said: "Lord, You don't
have to get me out of this
00:53:20.53\00:53:22.76
but if You can get me out
of this get me out of this. "
00:53:22.96\00:53:24.53
That was my prayer.
And I'll never forget:
00:53:24.73\00:53:27.04
as I was there with my
hands up against the wall
00:53:27.24\00:53:28.84
and the officers were checking
each individual one by one,
00:53:29.04\00:53:31.67
one by one, and as
they checked an individual
00:53:31.87\00:53:33.81
they told them to sit
down in the chair that was
00:53:34.01\00:53:35.71
nearby them. As
the police officer was
00:53:35.91\00:53:38.65
nearing myself to
begin his search on my person
00:53:38.85\00:53:42.68
another officer came
from the total opposite
00:53:42.88\00:53:46.92
direction in the club,
engaged him in a conversation
00:53:47.12\00:53:51.53
that took him to the
total opposite end of the club.
00:53:51.73\00:53:55.40
And there I was looking
at all of this taking place.
00:53:56.43\00:53:58.90
And I saw this seat
nearby between two large men.
00:53:59.10\00:54:03.64
And because I'm not as large
as these NFL-looking gentlemen
00:54:03.84\00:54:07.28
I thought: "If I
can get into that chair,
00:54:07.48\00:54:08.81
I'm good. " And so I
started doing my best
00:54:08.94\00:54:11.68
rendition of Michael
Jackson. I started to slide
00:54:11.88\00:54:14.15
on the floor. Bit by
bit I slid on the floor
00:54:14.35\00:54:19.25
and I got over to that
chair. I sat down in that chair
00:54:19.45\00:54:21.59
and I leaned back in my
seat. And nobody realized that
00:54:21.79\00:54:27.10
they didn't check me.
And I thought to myself:
00:54:27.30\00:54:29.10
"Once again I've gotten away. "
00:54:29.30\00:54:30.63
"I'm too smart for them. "
00:54:30.70\00:54:32.20
Nah, God had
something for me still.
00:54:33.17\00:54:35.24
The lead officer came
into the club and he said:
00:54:36.44\00:54:38.74
'Did you talk to everyone? "
00:54:38.94\00:54:40.28
That was their language
for: "Did you check everyone? "
00:54:40.31\00:54:42.38
They said: "Yes,
we tossed everyone. "
00:54:42.58\00:54:43.95
He said: "Well,
toss them all again! "
00:54:44.15\00:54:45.48
My heart fell into my foot.
00:54:45.78\00:54:47.12
This time you
had to go to the door
00:54:48.92\00:54:51.35
that was the
entrance into the club.
00:54:51.55\00:54:53.15
There was only one
way in; one way out.
00:54:53.36\00:54:54.76
I knew there was no
way for me to get away.
00:54:54.96\00:54:56.39
So when it was my time
to get checked I thought:
00:54:56.79\00:54:59.19
"You know what? I'm just
going to take it like a man. "
00:54:59.39\00:55:00.90
I walked up to the gentleman, I
walked up to the police officer
00:55:01.10\00:55:03.63
and I threw my
hands up behind my head.
00:55:03.83\00:55:05.67
And I had on one of
these winter parkas.
00:55:05.87\00:55:08.30
And so he started his
search on me, and this what
00:55:10.47\00:55:12.34
he did:
ch-ch-ch-ch, ch-ch-ch-ch,
00:55:12.54\00:55:14.38
ch-ch. He said:
"Go over there. "
00:55:14.58\00:55:17.25
He never checked my
bottom pockets that looked like
00:55:17.45\00:55:23.39
they had teddy
bears inside of them.
00:55:23.59\00:55:24.92
I mean, literally, they
were the biggest thing on me
00:55:25.12\00:55:27.26
and he never touched them.
00:55:27.66\00:55:28.99
One of my
friends looked at me...
00:55:33.09\00:55:34.60
he looked at me
like he saw a ghost.
00:55:34.80\00:55:36.40
He said: "There's no
way... that's impossible! "
00:55:37.17\00:55:39.13
He said: "Man! You
must have prayed! "
00:55:40.10\00:55:42.67
You know what? I DID pray.
00:55:43.67\00:55:45.27
And even in the
midst of my folly
00:55:46.27\00:55:48.44
God came through for me.
00:55:48.84\00:55:50.71
And you may be in the
midst of some folly right now.
00:55:52.91\00:55:55.82
You may be
engaged in a lifestyle
00:55:57.92\00:56:00.32
or in transactions
00:56:02.36\00:56:04.43
or some type of
intimate associations that
00:56:07.56\00:56:09.93
you know you have no
business being a part of
00:56:10.13\00:56:12.83
but Jesus is
ready to redeem you.
00:56:13.97\00:56:17.31
He paid the price
for your salvation.
00:56:18.61\00:56:24.58
All you need to do is
give your heart to Him.
00:56:25.95\00:56:31.89
Trust Him and He
will lift you up.
00:56:32.95\00:56:36.73
Higher than the human thoughts,
00:56:37.73\00:56:39.66
higher than the highest
thought that you can ever have
00:56:40.40\00:56:43.67
for yourself Jesus
Christ will lift you up
00:56:43.87\00:56:46.70
because His desire for you
00:56:46.90\00:56:49.80
is to restore you
back into His image
00:56:50.21\00:56:52.44
and bring you right
into His physical presence.
00:56:52.84\00:56:56.38
May God bless you as
you look unto Jesus. Amen.
00:56:56.58\00:57:01.55
His body was broken
00:57:03.99\00:57:06.22
so that we could live giving
us the gift of eternal life.
00:57:07.19\00:57:11.29
He pursues us relentlessly
with an everlasting love.
00:57:12.89\00:57:17.07
Regardless of our
failures and mistakes
00:57:18.37\00:57:21.10
the One who
loves us like no other.
00:57:22.07\00:57:24.87
THIS is who Jesus IS.
00:57:26.04\00:57:29.31